But as the world’s best golfers head for Muirfield on Scotland’s East ­Lothian coastline this week ­Donald believes he is ready to join their little club.

As a relatively raw 24-year-old Donald missed the cut last time at Muirfield in 2002 by three shots after rounds of 73 and 74.

But ­Donald ­believes the most feared Scottish links on The Open rota could suit his game.

He said: “It’s going to be all about ball control.

“You have to hit the fairways to get to the greens and that’s all my strengths.

“I have had a couple of top five ­finishes at The Open in recent years so I think I have figured out how to play links golf.

“And having seen what Adam and Justin have achieved this year I think my turn will come.

US Open glory: Justin Rose had led the way for England this year (Photo: Getty)

“I have got to No.1 in the world, which they haven’t, and if it doesn’t happen at Muirfield I have still got plenty of years ahead of me in which I can be a Major ­winner.”

Although Donald has not recreated this season his 2011 form, which took him to the top of the rankings through victories in the Accenture Matchplay, the Scottish Open and the PGA at Wentworth, he does not believe it’s far away.

In last month’s US Open, like Rose, he went into the final round at Merion just two shots behind Phil Mickelson, but slipped down to finish in eighth place after carding a 75 compared to the ­winner’s 70.

“That was very disappointing,” says Donald. “After putting myself into the position where I could win on a very tough course.

“I didn’t control my ball flight very well and got off to a very slow start.

“But since then I have been working very hard on my ball control and I feel like everything is coming together.”

Donald admits it had never occurred to him that, in winning at Merion, Rose had ended a 17-year run without an ­English Major winner stretching back to Sir Nick Faldo’s 1996 Masters victory.

He added: “I was surprised that Justin’s victory was the first by an Englishman for such a long time, but I don’t think we will have to wait that long again.

“Hopefully we have now broken our bad period.

“And we have got so much talent in English golf another Major win should come soon.”